gibson



Feb. 7. 1956 5. M. GIBSON HYDROTHERAFY MASSAGE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1949 IN V EN TOR. Geozye M 64 9022 Feb. 7, 1956 --cs. M. GIBSON 2,733,711

HYDROTHERAPY MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed July 7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent" HYDROTHERAPY MASSAGE APPARATUS George M. Gibson, Bellevue, Iowa Application July 7, 1949, Serial No. 103,458

12 Claims. (Cl. 128-56) This invention relates to hydrotherapy apparatus and particularly to such apparatus employing mechanical and pneumatic auxiliary massage means in addition to the conventional therapeutic action of water currents.

Hydrotherapy apparatus employing water currents are old in the art and have been accomplished by enclosed pump apparatus directing water currents into a therapeutic bath either with or without the auxiliary use of air entrained in water currents for additive massage effects. I have discovered that more adjustable and effective water currents can be effected by an exposed vaned pump that may be utilized for either mechanical or pneumatic additional massage effects or a combination of them. This is particularly true because the patient may adjust his contact with the apparatus to attain the most desirable results.

It is the particular object of the present invention to provide hydrotherapy apparatus employing an exposed vaned pump wherein mechanical and pneumatic means are combined with circulating water currents to provide hydrotherapy treatments.

Other objects and benefits will be disclosed in the following descriptions and drawings in'which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my hydrotherapy apparatus applied for the treatment of feet;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the apparatus as it would appear on the section lines 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are top and sectional views respectively of an optional form of massage impeller as will later be explained;

Similarly Figs. 5 and 6 are top and cross sectional views of another form of massage impeller;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a massage impeller similar to that shown in Fig. l as will later be explained;

Fig. 8 likewise is a top plan view of a still further form I of massage impeller employing lower depressions;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of an optional form of a massage impeller device designed for application to a hydrotherapy tank as will later be explained;

Fig. 10 shows a massage substitute impeller attachment for use at the impeller end on the device shown in Fig. 9; V

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a complete horizontal submergence tank utilizing massage impellers of both vertical and horizontal dispositions as illustrated in' Figs. 9 and 10; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an upright submergence tank to which massage impellers may be applied as in the tank illustrated in Figure 11.

7 Now referring to the drawings, and at the outset to Figs. 1 and 2, I show a conventional tub having a side wall 15 with an ofiset recess tub bottom 16 mounted therein. Together they form a unitary tub which is supported by a bottom support member 17 resting on support buttons 18 as shown. Below the tub bottom 16 there is fixed an air intake flanged conduit 19 which encloses an air intake passageway 20. Into this intake passageway 20 is mounted an air intake tube 21 having an adjustment cap 22 mounted on its top. In the cap 22 and tube 21 there are formed coacting air adjustment inlets 23. By rotating the cap 22 the amount of the air 5, flow into tube 21 may be regulated at the will of the operator. The air inlet tube 21 is supported on the side of the tub 15 by a bracket 24. It will be observed that the air intake into tube 21 is above the normal water level W as indicated in Figure 2. On the side wall of the tub 15 is mounted an electric motor 25, which is controlled by an otf and on switch 26 which is connected to a service cord 27 as shown. By this arrangement the operator may either stop or start the motor at will. The motor is connected to the impeller drive shaft 29 by a conventional belt and pulley drive 28. The drive shaft 29 is rotatably mounted in a sealed drive shaft bearing bracket 30. The bracket 30 is mounted on the air intake flanged conduit 19 by bolts 31 and extends through the air intake passageway 20, being sealed at its top by a clamp nut 32 as shown. The upper end of the drive shaft 29 is provided with a suitably threaded end '29t which removably threads into and carries a massage impeller 33 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement it will be appreciated that the operator may remove the impeller 33 and substitute other impellers as desired.

The massage impeller 33 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a preferred form ofimpeller and I will now describe its structure and operation. It will be observed that one half of the impeller has a smooth convex face 33s. The other half of the impeller has been formed to include four depressions 33d to provide three vanes 3312. The formation of the vanes 33v provides internal radial cavities and vanes under the face of the impeller and by rotating the impeller rapidly unidirectionally by the motor drive structure, it will be observed that a suction under the impeller will be created. This internal suction is transferred through four inlet openings 161 leading to the air intake passageway 20 and thence through the air tube 21 as shown. It will thus be obvious that when air intake is permitted through the air adjustment cap 22 and air inlets 23 that air will be drawn through tube 21 and air passageway 20 into the impeller 33 through openings 16i and will then be expelled through the holes 33t located in the sides of the impeller vanes 331 The three vanes 33v will create a pulsating water current adjacent the rotary path of the impeller 33 and thus the massage impeller 33 is adapted to normal hydrotherapy water action, together with the combined air action through the openings 33: and the natural massage action of the convex face of the impeller 33s assisted by the vanes 33v. The massage impeller 33 can be readily removed from the top of the threaded end 291 on the shaft 29 and various other massage impellers can be mounted upon shaft 29 by threading thereon.

Now referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the impeller here shown comprises a convex faced impeller 133 having on its inner side four ribs 1331'. Also on the face of the im peller 133 are four holes 133k which are utilized to expel air into the massage bath. This type of impeller is used for moderate mechanical massage efiect and its use is indicated under conditions indicating very light me chanical massage elfects.

However, if a mechanical massage of greater intensity is desired, it is feasible to use an impeller as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which includesthe added surface projections 133p which in this instance are shown as rounded projections.

Fig. 7 illustrates an impeller that has two series of depressions 133d divided by vanes 133v, while Fig. 8 shows an impeller having two sets of depressions 133d separated by smooth areas 133s.

Fr m he b e d cr n it i bs appreciated that impellers of many kinds may be designed to give almost any desired combination of mechanical, circulatory and pneumatic hydrotherapy treatments.

,Now referring to Figs. 9 and 10, I show a similar hydrotherapy massage unit to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that this unit is designed for adjustable mounting on the rim of hydrotherapy tanks of various kinds. This mounting of hydrotherapy units on the rim of tanks is common practice for hydrotherapy apparatus employing pump vanes enclosedtin pump housings in the conventional manner. On a vertical hollow support tube 34 is mounted a massage impeller housing 35 having a protector flange 36 as shown. The housing 34 is supported from a tank bracket 37 extending over the rim of the tank and secured thereto by clamp screws 38. Near the bottom of the inside leg of the bracket 37 is a pivotal attachment flange 39 and on this is supported a clamp bracket 49 extending around the support tube 34 and securely clamping it in the desired adjusted position by a thumb bolt 41 as shown. By this structure it will be understood that the support tube 34 may be adjusted vertically and'in tilted position at the will of the operator. Within the protector flange 36 there is mounted a massage impeller 33 on a conventional drive shaft 29 by the threaded connection 291? on the end of the shaft 29. By this structure it will be understood that various massage impellers may be substituted at the will of the operator. On the top of the support tube 34 an electric motor 25 is mounted as shown. To the electric motor 25 is attached a flexible drive shaft 42 connecting with the drive shaft 29 so that the massage impeller 33 is rotated as previously described. The rotation of the massage impeller 33 will cause a suction in the hollow tube 34 to induce air in the water through an adjustable air inlet 122 and 123 exactly in the same manner as described for the air inlets 22 and 23 in the apparatus described in Figs. 1 and 2. The air is inducted into the bath through air inlets 16i, the same as previously described. 7

The above description for Fig. 9 illustrates a massage impeller 33 held in a vertical manner. However, by substituting an impeller housing 135 as shown in Fig. 10, the massage impeller may be fixed in horizontal position. Thus by a combination of apparatus as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, I provide a portable flexibly mounted massage impeller apparatus for both horizontal and vertical massage impellers. Now when such apparatus is applied to hydrotherapy tanks as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, various massage impellers may be used in the tanks to give horizontal massage impeller action as illustrated at 44 or vertical massage impeller action as at 45. The impellers 44 and 45 may be applied to a full submergent hydrotherapy tank 43 wherein the patient can be almost completely submerged in a horizontal position. Hydrotherapy tanks are made in another form such as tank 46 illustrated in Fig. 12 which is a tall submergence tank to accommodate a patient in upright position and to which various massage impellers such as 44 and 45 may also be applied as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 or 11.

The devices described are all directed to rotationally operable impellers that provide air expulsion and water pulsation in the areas surrounding the submerged impeller.

In principle all the forms described operate similarly. As in Fig. 1, rapid rotation of impeller 33 by the motor drive produces internal suction within the impeller causing air to be drawn into tube 21, along passageway and through openings 16i into the impeller. Such air will then be centrifugally discharged through openings such as 33t to enter the water bath adjacent the impeller and into the pulsating waves of water generated by the surface vanes of the impeller. All this and the actual mechanical massage of the impeller surface make up the therapeutic treatment device of this invention. V

Ha in thus expl ined y in ent on, ne claim as new:

1. An apparatus for hydro-therapy comprising a liquid tank, a hollow impeller rotatably supported Within the liquid in said tank, means to drive said impeller at relatively high speeds, said impeller having a portion thereof arranged and positioned to directly massage a contacting body part, and air conduit means arranged to communicate with the interior of said impeller, said impeller having internal means arranged to draw air into the interior thereof, and having openings in certain portions thereof to expel said air into said tank liquid during rotation of the impeller.

2. An apparatus for hydro-therapy comprising a liquid tank, a hollow rotatable impeller submerged within the liquid in said tank and supported for rotation by said tank, means to drive said impeller at relatively high speeds, and air conduit means arranged to communicate with the interior of said impeller, said impeller having internal vanes arranged to draw air into the interior thereof, and having openings in certain portions thereof to expel said air into said tank liquid during rotation of the impeller, said impeller also having an externally deformed surface portion to function as a direct mechanical message for a contacting body part during the rotation of said impeller.

3. An apparatus for hydro-therapy comprising a liquid tank, a hollow rotatable impeller submerged in exposed position within the liquid in said tank, means to drive said impeller at relatively high speeds, and air conduit means arranged to communicate with the interior of said impeller, said impeller having internal vanes arranged to draw air into the interior thereof, and having openings in certain portions thereof to expel said air into said tank liquid during rotation of the impeller, said impeller being further provided with radial vanes upon its surface to form high and low contours to massage a contacting body part and to also create water pulsations to supplement the air discharge through said impeller openings.

4. An apparatus for hydro-therapy comprising a fluid tank, a hollow impeller having a convex top, said impeller being supported for rotation adjacent one wall of said tank with the hollow side toward said wall, air conduit means connected with said wall and through openings therein to the hollow of said impeller, and operative means to rotate said impeller, said impeller having vanes in the interior thereof to draw air into the same, and having openings in the surface thereof to radially expel such air into the tank liquid.

5. An apparatus for hydro-therapy comprising a rotatable impeller supported in a fluid bath, said impeller having an outer surface contour designed to present a variable surface to provide a rotary massage unit for a body part, certain portions of said variable surface comprising deformations that generate fluid impulses adjacent said impeller, said impeller having a deformed inner surface portion oppositely related to the outer surface fluid impulse portion thereof, and air supply means terminating adjacent its inner surface portion of said impeller for air dispersion into said bath fluid about said impeller by said inner'deformations of the impeller.

6. A portable apparatus for hydro-therapy comprising a rotatable body part massaging impeller adapted for submersion into a water container, an air duct leading to said impeller, said impeller having suction means to draw air through said duct and to disperse the air into the Water of said container, and clamp means connected with said duct to secure the duct to said container and to position said impeller in a predetermined exposed location within said container. 7

7. A portable apparatus for hydro-therapy comprising a rotatable bodypart massaging impeller adapted for submersion into a water container, an air duct leading to said impeller, said impeller having suctionmeans to draw air through said duct and'to. disperse the air into thewater of said container, impeller drive means mounted upon said duct and extending therethrough for connection with said impeller, and clamp means carried by said duct to fasten the same to the container with the impeller disposed in operative exposed relation within the water of said container. i

8. A hydro-therapy apparatus comprising a fluid carrying tank, a'massaging rotor mounted for rotation within the fluid in said tank, and operable drive means connected to rapidly revolve said rotor, said rotor having a portion of the surface thereof deformed to present a predetermined surface contour to directly massage a rotor contacting body part, said deformed surface portion of said rotor providing vane like element scomprising water agitating means generating water pulsations adjacent said body part massaging rotor, and an air supply means having one end thereof open to atmosphere at a point above the fluid level of said tank and the other end thereof arranged for direct communication to a point within the peripheral confines of said massaging rotor for direct dispersion of air by said rotor and into the tank fluid surrounding said rotor.

9. A hydro-therapy apparatus to directly massage a body part comprising a walled liquid tank, a rotatable massage unit presenting a convexly formed massaging surface, pivotal means connected with one wall of said tank to mount said unit adjacent said wall with the convexly formed surface thereof disposed in contiguous rela-,

tank to mount said unit adjacent said wall with the convexly formed surface thereof disposed in contiguous relation With respect to said one tank wall, operable means connected with said massage unit to rotate the same at predetermined speeds, said convexly formed massaging surface including high and low massaging deformities thereon to stimulate the contacting body part and to generate pulsating vibrations in the liquid surrounding said massage unit to supplement the mechanical massage action of said unit, said one wall being provided with ports adjacent the underside of said massage unit, and an air tion with respect to said one tank wall, and operable,

means connected with said massage unit to rotate the same at predetermined speeds, and air conduit means arranged for communication with said massage unit, said unit including vane means to draw air out of said conduit and to discharge said air into the'liquid surrounding said massage unit. a

12. A hydro-therapy apparatus to directly massage a.

body part comprising a walled liquid tank, a rotatable massage unit presenting a convexly formed massaging surface, pivotal means connected with one wall of said tank to mount said unit adjacent said wall with theconvexly formed surface thereof disposed in contiguous relation with respect to said one tank wall, and operable means connected with said massage unit to rotate the same at predetermined speeds, said convexly formed massaging surface including high and low massaging deformities thereon to stimulate the contacting body part and to generate pulsating vibrations in the liquid surrounding said massage unit to supplement the mechanical massage action of said unit, and air conduit means arranged for communication with said massage unit, said unit including vane means to draw air out of said conduit and to discharge said air, into the liquid surrounding said massage unit. 1 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 861,610 Sarver July 30, 1907 1,526,179 Parr et al. .Feb. 10, 1925 1,969,176 Kirby Aug. 7, 1934 2,091,167 Solley Aug. 24, 1937 2,142,206 Patek Jan. 3, 1939 2,237,436 Ille Apr. 8, 1941 2,272,585 Rocke Feb. 10, 1942 2,432,211 Rocke Dec. 9, 1947 2,478,188 Gibson Aug. 9, 1949' 2,587,644 Newman Mar. 4, 1952 

